Fort Myers Couple Sentenced To Prison For Conspiring To Distribute Over 17 Kilograms Of Cocaine

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sherri Polster Chappell has sentenced Jose Nunez (66) and Sila Nunez (62), both of Fort Myers, to 11 years and 7 years in federal prison, respectively, for conspiracy to distribute more than 17 kilograms of cocaine. The couple pleaded guilty in November 2017.

According to court documents, an undercover DEA agent purchased an ounce of cocaine from Jose Nunez on two occasions in late 2016 and early 2017. After the second transaction, his wife, Sila Nunez, told the agent that they could do bigger deals in the future, up to a “kilo” in weight. Further investigation revealed that Jose and Sila Nunez were large-scale drug traffickers with direct ties to a Mexican drug cartel. Between October 2016 and July 2017, the couple received four multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine from the cartel, via drug couriers, and returned hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to the cartel. On July 26, 2017, agents searched the couple’s Fort Myers home and seized a stash of cocaine and more than $10,000 in drug proceeds.  

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.